What House did Grand Maester Pycelle come from?

[Patrick]

I've read all the books so far and now looking back and rereading certain parts of the books. In the scene where Tyrion confronts Pycelle, Pycelle says he has been loyal to House Lannister since the days of Aerys II. It got me to thinking about what House Pycelle came from. Did he come from a high-born house or was he common-born? I have a theory that he comes from a family in the Westerlands, perhaps a family that is bannerman to the Lannisters. Or maybe he just liked the Lannisters because of their immense riches? Any other thoughts?

[Josh]

according to the wiki he was first in service to aegon V (egg) which would likely mean his backstory would be filled in by a later novella in the dunk and egg series.

if that is the case that means he served three targaryens and three baratheons (technically one baratheon and two lannisters) i would expect that he was rewarded for his service by tywin lannister after convincing aerys to open the castle for the lannister forces at the gates. i could guess that his intentions were somewhat noble in this regard: as a servant to the people of king's landing and the realm and with knowledge of the aerys deepening paranoia and volatile nature he probably suspected tywin would at least return sanity to the city regardless of the means.

tywin probably rewarded him handsomely and he's been a patsy ever since. or perhaps he started before that when tywin was the hand? bringing him secrets and gossip and that sort of thing. perhaps theinvasion was premeditated and pycelle was part in overthrowing the old dynasty. either way i'm guessing money and possibly a westerland connection as well.

time will tell. perhaps we'll get a better understanding if he shows up in the tales of dunk and egg.

[Josh]

i thought too that perhaps you could guess where he came from based on his name (for example is he andal or is there a region or kingdom that might have more pycelles than others), but then i don't believe that there are any other pycelles in the series, so it's a tough call. it's very possible his name is too old and has fallen out of favor. my guess though is because of its odd sound, that it may be valyrian or at least essosi, so that's of little help. perhaps iron islander, but then why a maester since most all of them worship the drowned god.

hard to guess.

[Mitali]

We don't know the family origins of any Maesters except Maester Aemon (who is a special case). So why should we know the origins of Maester Pycelle? His claim about serving Lannisters could simply mean that he had been on the Lannister side whenever there was a Lannister in court, i.e. when Tywin was Hand to Aerys, and ever since Cersei married Robert.

It's certainly possible that Pycelle is from the Westerlands and even from some family closely connected to the Lannisters. But there doesn't seem to be any evidence to support it. In-universe, it's not impossible to find out a Maester's family origins, or at least not for people like Varys. So if Pycelle had been supporting the Lannisters out of some old family obligations, you can be sure that Varys would have known, and would have made sure everyone else knew as well.

[Jj]

I was on reread #umpteen this weekend when this popped into my head. We learn from Varys (to Tyrion) that the Grand Maester (when picked by a conclave) is usually high born. So lets start there. Now, 2 big assumptions: he is from the West and his friendship/loyalty to house Lannister is self serving. I now believe he is a Reyne or Tarbeck. Both houses were still around when he went to court as GM. If he was already GM when Tywin destroyed those two whole houses it would stand to reason he wouldn't have been killed like the rest of his house. This also gives Pycelle reason to be utterly devoted to Tywin almost to an obsession.